Blogger: Andrew Jaffe
URL: www.andrewjaffe.net/blog
First post: July 2004
Who is the blog written by?
Andrew Jaffe is a US astrophysicist who is currently working at Imperial College London’s Blackett Laboratory. His main interest is the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation that pervades the universe, and he was closely involved with the MAXIMA and BOOMERANG experiments to measure fluctuations in this radiation. A recent entry describes a new CMB experiment that Jaffe will be working on, named “PolarBear”. This telescope, which will be situated in Chile’s Atacama desert, is one of a new generation of experiments that will measure the CMB using not just a few tens of detectors but a few thousand, allowing unprecedented sensitivity.
What topics does the blog cover?
The main focus of this blog is cosmology, and in particular Jaffe’s own research. The funding crisis at the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council has featured heavily this year, and Jaffe seems relieved that this now seems to be reaching a resolution (particularly as his own group has emerged relatively unscathed). Jaffe also keeps up with other science blogs and often discusses interesting posts, and you can keep up with his day-to-day thoughts and movements via his Twitter feed.
Who is it aimed at?
The subject matter is probably of most interest to Jaffe’s colleagues and other astrophysicists, but he writes clearly and always takes care to explain any scientific terms used. As such, a general reader with an interest in cosmology would have no problem following the blog.
Why should I read it?
Jaffe’s American take on UK life is quite refreshing. (The blog’s title, for example, refers to the common excuse used by UK rail companies for train delays in the autumn). Jaffe’s writing also reveals a good sense of humour, and his research is pretty interesting in itself.
How often is it updated?
It varies — sometimes Jaffe puts up a new post every few days, but often it can be a couple of weeks between entries. His posts are always quite lengthy and structured, however.
Can you give me a sample quote?
I’ve had [a] Fermilab-labeled mug ever since I spent the summer working there in 1990. Today, sadly, I dropped it fumbling with the keys to my office. Actually, that was a pretty fun summer. I was working on an idea to detect cosmic axions, with a setup similar to some ongoing experiments but using somewhat odd ferrimagnetic materials. Axions are one of the possibilities for the omnipresent but difficult-to-detect dark matter. For the first and only time in my life, I got to play with superconducting detectors, RF cavities and old-fashioned strip-chart recorders, and not just for some assigned lab project. Alas, the idea didn’t pan out, and axions still haven’t been detected (despite a couple of claims to the contrary).
